SYNOPSIS
Children of the Mist follows Di, a 12-year-old H’Mông girl, on her journey of growing up amid the clash between traditional and modern cultures. The film portrays the innocent childhood of the girl, her childhood games related to the custom of “bride kidnapping,” and then her harsh confrontation when she becomes a victim of this tradition, leading to a broken childhood and the challenges of maturation. This documentary, directed by Hà Lệ Diễm, has been acclaimed for its authentic, respectful portrayal of H’Mông culture and the complex realities faced by indigenous communities in Sa Pa. It was recognized among the top documentary films shortlisted for the Oscars.
CREDIT
Director: Hà Lệ Diễm
Hà Lệ Diễm began her documentary career after participating in Varan Vietnam’s documentary film workshop in 2016. She directed the independent documentary “Những đứa trẻ trong sương” (Children of the Mist), which gained international recognition, including becoming the first Vietnamese documentary shortlisted for the Oscars’ top 15 in 2023. She has received numerous awards such as the Best Director and Golden Lotus Award at the Vietnam Film Festival. Her work is praised for its authentic portrayal of ethnic minority life and social issues in Vietnam.
Genre: Documentary
Production: Trần Phương Thảo & Swann Dubus
Cinematography: Hà Lệ Diễm
Editing: Swann Dubus
Arards:
✦ Best Asian Film Award at the Da Nang Asian Film Festival (2023).
✦ Best Director Award at the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA) 2021.
✦ Best First Feature Documentary at IDFA 2021.
✦ Clarens Award for humanitarian documentary at the International Cinéma du Réel Festival (France).
✦ Best International Film Award at the TEL AVIV International Film Festival (Israel) 2022.
✦ The first Vietnamese documentary shortlisted in the Top 15 for the Best Documentary Feature category of the 2023 Oscars.
CLIPS
PHOTOS
Other Films
DUST
Once upon a time, there was an old lady, a boy and a dog. All day long, they roamed the streets, pushing their little truck so as to glean cardboard and plastic which they sell to whoever pays the most. They only return home when the city is fast asleep.
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Pottery seller
To escape from the difficulties of life in the countryside, Hung and Thuy decide to sell ceramic ware. They mortgage their family home to buy a boat which is used to transport the goods. They travel down the Red River to reach Hanoi, the capital, and sell their pots as best they can. Their new direction is not so easy.
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Daddy’s come home
Without sufficient work in the countryside, many peasants go to Hanoi to sell their labor force. As day laborers, they wait in the streets of the city until a job is offered them. After particularly arduous work, some decide to return to the countryside to be near their wives and children. The main character, surrounded by his neighbors, recounts the difficulties and the differences in living conditions between the city and the country.
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Thanh Cong village, Thanh Cong neighbourhood
In an old district of Hanoi, formerly a village, new loud speakers must be repaired and installed. By observing everyday life, Vang Anh films with humor the animation caused by this event and plunges us into the heart of Vietnamese contradictions.
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